On the Upswing! (+ summer reading list)

I started the day like this:

I was feeling "better" but was stuck at that point where both ears refuse to pressurize at the same time, making it feel like my head will implode at any second. Plus, there are low pressure systems moving through CO (like, actual rain!) which always wreak havoc on my sinuses.

I'm a real joy to be around right now.

Especially as I write a final research paper and prepare for a two hour Austen final. A final! In a literature class! Are you freakin' kidding me? I have to actually study. I haven't studied in...well, we can measure the years in decades, so we're not gonna talk about that.

But!!

By this afternoon I was almost - almost - back to good health. More importantly, both of our senses of taste are back, so we celebrated by eating biscuits and pancakes for dinner. Followed by Twix bars for dessert. I would take the time to point out that I'm not kidding, but you know that already. I'm dead serious.

And I finished the day in style:

I would like to point out that I have a whopping total of two classes left to teach and only one left to take this semester! 

And I got hours as a writing consultant this summer! And I was contacted by some of my favorite summer tutoring families! We may be able to actually pay our bills and eat, too.

OK, here's my summer reading list so far:

* Blue Eyes (Toni Morrison)
* The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
* Go Set a Watchman (<---- HARPER LEE!!)
* The Feminine Mystique (Betty Friedan)
* Moby Dick (Herman Melville)
* Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
* It Was Me All Along (Andie Mitchell)
* The Help, re-read, (Kathryn Stockett)
* Why Africa is Poor (Greg Mills)

What else? Send me recommendations! I will need some serious escapism since, (1) we aren't taking any fun and/or exotic vacations, and (2) we will be up to our eyeballs in selling the VA house.

I will pay you $1,000 to take my Austen final for me. I'll throw in a rabbit if you'll write my paper as well.